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Calendar – Valencia Fiestas – Murcia Day – Alicante Fires – Bulls and terms – Torrevieja Hogueras – Postiguet Fireworks – Alicante programme – Alicante fiestas in year – June Moors & Christians – Corpus Christi – Valencia medieval fiestas – Baking for the pueblo – Union Musical Torrevejense – Black is Black – Kneeling for the flag – Biased – Tolton – Amanda Gorman – Date Mates – Bali Appeal Presentation Yayasan Sahaja Sawah Foundation – Torrevieja CouncilWhats On in June
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JUNE FIESTA CALENDAR IN ALICANTE PROVINCE
Torrevieja Sagrado Corazon June Fiestas
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Valencia city celebrates Corpus Christi with a medieval procession including traditional dances. Many people complain that religion should be swept away. But how miserable life would be without these colorful fiestas related to religious meanings. A moveable feast in June is that of Corpus Christi, celebrated in most towns by some form of processions or pilgrimages. This year it falls on Thursday 20th June, but many place transfer it the nearest Sunday. Another festival is that of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Sagrado Corazón), usually held on a Friday, 8th June, with many churches of this title holding fiestas in their own district. Torrevieja district around this c church have week long celebrations. On the First Sunday of June Guadalest celebrates Fiestas of San Gregorio. In Benejúzar the patronal fiestas of la Santísima Virgen del Rosario are held. First weekend of June Ibi holds fiestas in Campos area. Second weekend of June Ibi continues fiestas in la Ciudad Deportiva. Weekend prior to the feast of Corpus Christi the Holy Trinity fiestas are held in Dénia. 7 - 10 June Moors & Christians in Alicante in the San Blas district. 9th June Romería for Corpus Christi celebrated in Benidorm for 4 days. The week after Corpus Christi is a fiesta in the town of L’Alquería d’Asnar. 29th June the weekend nearest to this date is a fiesta in Banyares de Mariola. 12 - 16th June Novelda has fiestas in the Sagrado Corazón area. 13th June Romería in Banyares de Mariola. 14 . 24th JuneHogueras in Xàbia.
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20th June
or nearest day, a Friday, is the Sacred Heart of Jesus with Fiestas in Dolores and in Torrevieja. On this moveable feast of Sacred Heart Parcent also hold a fiesta. 17th June Feast of San Antiono de Padua and the nearest weekend to this date is the time for fiestas in Altea. Third weekend of June the Moors & Christians in Teulada. Last weekend of month Ibi has a fiesta. 20 - 29th June Fogueras in Alacant
21st is the Summer Solstice tied in with the feast of Saint John the Baptist and the hogueras of Alicante and other towns, including Torrevieja that has a hoguera in the Calvary's district and possibly another in Acequion THIS YEAR. 21 - 24th JuneHogueras in Alicante, Torrevieja and Catral., among other towns 22 - 24th JuneCatral patronal fiestas with Moors & Christians. 24th June Alcalalí; (Romería); Miguel de las 27th - 28th June
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Feastday of Saint John the Baptist. In Alicante on the night of the 24th is the cremà. Other places celebrating this fiesta are in Altea; Beniardà; Benidorm; Benejama; Calpe; Santa Pola Xàbia; Montforte del Cid; Dénia; Gata de Gorgos; San Salinas. Moors & Christians in Pego.
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29th June
Feast of Saints Peter & Paul. Celebrated in Rojales with Moors & Christians; in Guardamar del Segura; in Dénia; Moors & Christians in Benissa; Moors & Christians in Agost; patronal fiestas on the Island of Tabarca (FOTOS). THERE ARE DAILY BOAT TRIPS FROM ALICANTE, SANTA POLA AND TORREVIEJA BUT WATCH YOUR RETURN HOURS. The Sunday nearest to the 27th June is a fiesta in honour of Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro held in Almoradi. Last weekend of June patronal fiestas in Pego. Youth festival in Sanet y Negrals with more events in Ibi. San Juan de Alicante fiestas held at end of the month.
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The 9th June is the regional Day of Murcia (and of la Rioja) with many celebrations in the week leading up to this date in those regions. During the summer many communities and urbanisations take it upon themselves to have their own celebrations.
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STREET BONFIRES FOR SUMMER IN ALICANTE
The principal tourist fiestas of this month are those of Saint John the Baptist on whose birth, according to a tradition, strange mystic fires were burnt. This night of the 24th June is the summer solstice and the purifying pagan fire rites have been adapted to celebrate the corresponding Christian feast of St. John the Baptist. Fire plays an important part of many fiestas throughout the year and during the days that lead up to his fiesta on 24th June, many towns build bonfires known as hogueras, that are ceremoniously burned on the saint’s feast day. It is also Midsummer and the shortest night of the year which has its own type of magic and the pagan fire rites have been carried over into Christianity. Fallas, fogueras, hogueras all roughly mean the same thing – a bonfire. But specialist underline that there is a technical difference as a falla tends to lean more towards satire content and has vivid colours whereas, a hoguera is more allegorical with pastel coclours. The Hoguera is based on straight lines, symmetrical, while the falla seems to have finer features such as those of Llladro porcelain, with the ninots having a grotesque appearance..
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Ninots are individual figures of a hoguera and some receive an insult from the jury thus saving them from the flames and end up in the museum
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Nº 064 June 2019 Other towns that celebrate hogueras include Benidorm, San Juan, Denia, Teulada, Pinoso, Calpe and Torrevieja. In some seaside towns the beaches have small hogueras and there are even some people who have white magic rituals on the beach with fire and water. In 2010 some Catral citizens recuperated this festival by building a hoguera in shape of a bullring with photos of local people and some well known people such as Julio Iglesias or Don Quixote‌
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Alicante is rightly famous for its hogueras; for example in 2001 there were 176 of these traditional fires in the streets of Alicante. A recent museum in the town centre has been opened where those that have been awarded an indult prize have been saved for prosperity and were saved from the flames. We will have a closer look at Alicante’s hogueras as they are typical of others held throughout the year in smaller towns.
The original Alicante hoguera celebrations were in 1928, organised by Don José María Pi y Ramirez de Cartagena. These are fiestas that literally fire the imagination of the whole population as illusions from the past year are realised in the figures of the hogueras. The figures are set-up in the various points of the city around about the 20th, only to be burned on the night of the saint’s day of the 24th June. In these figures you can see the pointed humour of the citizens as each one has its own lesson to impart before its final demise in the fires of ‘la crema’. Normally a plaque with a rhyme or poem satirizes the content of the hoguera, which is often relevant to local or national politics. As in most parts of Spain the hogueras celebrations ceased during the hostilities of the Civil War. In 1939 only one hoguera was built in front of the Mercado Central ut by 1940 there were 21 hogueras. aormi@icloud.com
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Paellas Throughout the Alicante festivities there are a number of competitions. At the beginning of the festivities there is a paella competition. Each hoguera has its own barraca, a place where people can gather to feast and dance each night of the hogueras fiestas. The original barraca was a typical Valencian or Murcian house; today it usually means a place of celebrations during fiestas. There is a competition in five categories for the best barraca including the design of the entrance to these barracas, how much entertainment they offer, how long they are open etc. This competition adds an extra dimension to the general hogueras of San Juan. Music and dancing are important elements as people forget their daily work, problems and hardships for these precious few days. This escape from the daily drudge is a fundamental element in all the fiestas held in Spain; it is amazing that this concept has increased, rather than decreased, with the arrival of television in the home, as one would think that most people would prefer to watch the world through the eyes of a TV camera.
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Firework competitions
These fiestas dominate the senses with the smell of gunpowder, the noise of rockets and crackers, the smoke and heat of the flames, the crush of excited bystanders, the colourful images and dresses, the music of bands and taped music. Fireworks are a staple element in every Spanish fiesta and here in Alicante there is yet another competition held daily this time at 14.00 from 20th to 24th June for the best Mascletas, the firecrackers set off amid a lot of noise and smoke. It appears that the origins of fireworks, particularly crackers, are because at many celebrations local militia would escort the parade and fire off their guns. On the night of the 24th a huge palmeral is set off above the Santa Barbara Castle. This splendid firework is as its name suggest like a huge palm tree fireball and can take three months in its manufacture of various componenets. Fireworks continue after the 24th until 29th on the Postguiet beach as another fireworks competition is held. These extraordinary fiery attractions terminate on the 29th with the correfoc which last year took place on the Esplanda. aormi@icloud.com
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Flower offering
Almost every day there is some form of parade in some part of Alicante. The fiestas may be in honour of San Juan, but the traditional Flower Offering is made to Nuestra Seùora Virgen del Remedio; a procession that also brings in an element of competition as each of the hoguera committees of the various districts vie as to who has the biggest and best flower arrangement. Thousands of the city’s beauties parade in their colourful costumes carrying flowers to the plaza del Ayuntamiento where they are built up into a common floral picture in honor of the Virgen. Another important parade worth mentioning is the Folklore one held on 23rd June. This is a long parade with groups of dancing girls in traditional colourful clothes of the countryside and fisherwomen. Other dancing couples dance intricate ribbon dances twisting and turning inside each other until the ribbons seem hopelessly tangled up, only to dance their way once more out of the aormi@icloud.com
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apparent knot. Horses and their riders also participate with agile displays of horsemanship and dressage, with an occasional large carpet n the ground so that the horse can obey commands to “play dead” to the delight of the crowd.
Parades would not be fun without the music of the local marching bands and one of these accompanies the “Bigheads”, the t r a d i t i o n a l representatives of Aragon, Castille and the Moors among other ones. These are heavy effigies carried on the shoulders of strong men who work in groups, taking turns under the clothes of the Bigheads. Also the beauty Queens of the Fires take part in the folklore parade sitting on huge floats of various designs such as a brightly coloured peacock.
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Beauty queens An important figure in any of the fiestas is that of the Beauty Queen. The Queen of the Hogueras of Alicante is known as la Bellea del Foc. This title was instituted in 1932 at the suggestion of a Segovian journalist, Mario GuillĂŠn, that the town should have a figure to represent the women of the city. In 1961 the brocaded dresses used by the queens and their entourage were introduced by Torrevejense Don Tomas Valcarcel who was in charge of the steering committee in Alicante for several years. This is not merely a figure of beauty because the Bellea has to be an ambassador for the city, traveling and speaking at other events in Spain and nowadays at an international level. aormi@icloud.com Torrevieja Outlook
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Therefore, it is not just beauty that is required but some brains and ability to speak in public. In 2002 one of the streets of the city was named la Bellea del Foc in honour of this position. Nowadays the election of these queens is accompanied by a large spectacular concert, usually held in May where the candidates’ parade, wearing not only the traditional colourful Alicante fiesta dress, and also in gala dresses. Each hoguera has its own queen and dames of honour elected, including many for children. These local beauties are important figures in the life of each of the districts and they dress in the beautiful traditional dress of the Alicante ladies of the past. But it is not only the Queens who dress up, a fiesta is an occasion for all the ladies to bring out lovely classic costumes and the men also to use the occasion to put on their traditional glad rags. As from 2008, the regulations in choosing a aormi@icloud.com
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Bellea were altered so that women of any age above 18 could be picked, as well as permitting a transvestite to be chosen in line with the nationaal Law of Equality. Almost every traditional fiesta has its own type of music and the Alicante Hogueras Queen has music dedicated to them. This is the “Himno a la Bellea del Foc” written by Luis Torregrosa with words by José Ferrándiz Torremocha, first heard in the Plaza de Toros, Alicante on 22nd June 1933. Although it is considered a great honour to be the Fire Queen one of the saddest functions is to press the cvomputerised button that sets off the final fireworks that ignites the hoguera and see something so beautiful destroyed in the flames.
Ninots Those specialists, who work all year round designing and making the various ‘ninot sculptures’, are justly proud of their handiwork and it must pain them to see so much hard work and illusion go up in flames. For months the chosen rtists will be fully occupied designing and planning their work, aware that every detail will be highly criticized. A competition of these Ninots is held and judges decide which two are the best for saving from the flames and they will eventually find their way into the museum in la Rambla, Alicante.
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During May there is normally a collection of these figures in the converted Lonja de Pescadores in the harbour area. A committee judges all the Hogueras, and those considered to be the best receive a prize. The streets are ablaze with streetlights throwing shadows in multi-coloured shapes. Hoguera celebrations play an important part in keeping alive the fire and spirit of the people of the city. Typical food While the ninots were being planted in the streets, the workers were provided with pies (empanadas) which would have tuna fish and pine seeds. Today although ths stil continues, it has become a competition event among the city’s bakers as to who can make the tastiest and best presented coca amb tonyina. The rules state aormi@icloud.com
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that the size must be 18 by 24 centimetres. The ingredients are flour, warm water, oil, anis, salt and pepper. The filling is tuna, onion, pine kernels plus both black and sweet pepper. One of the secrets is that the pastry must be very thin without being broken in the process. Each coca is brushed with eggwash before being baked.
Alongside bacores is another traditional fruit that is available at this time. This comes from the first harvest of the fig tree and locally is also known as a breva. It is in season in June and is pear shaped and larger than a fig but not as sweet. The fresh figs come out in August and are delicious with fresh cream!
Window Dressing Another aspect of these fiestas is the Window Dressing Competition where all the local businesses are invited to put on special window displays in the hope of winning an award and, of course, some free publicity. The window displays are earlier from the end of May and prizes are awarded on 22nd June.
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Bull fighting Bull fighting is an important ingredient in the Alicante fiestas and for a week some of the well-known figures in this typical Spanish sport can be seen in action in the Feria Taurina (Bull Fayre). Bullfighting is a touchy subject for many people and although there is a strong anti-bull fighting lobby, it is still a very popular spectacle at fiestas in many Spanish towns from Easter to mid-October the season. Everything about a bullfight is governed by very strict regulations. Hemingway’s “Death in the Afternoon” which offers a vivid description of the whole atmosphere of the arena dazzlingly brought the excitement of this event to the English speaking audience. The centre of everything is the arena, which as most readers will know means sand as that is what was used in Roman times at the Coliseum and other amphitheatres. The price of tickets largely depends on where the shade is as it is debilitating to stand or sit in the sun for several hours. You may see a bullfight on television and will see large gaps in the crowd, which is because that is where the heat of the sun is likely to fall and needs to be avoided. A brass band strikes up a stirring paso doble, announcing the beginning of the corrida de toros; it is one of the few events that is likely to start punctually in Spain. Contests of strength, skill and bravery between man and beast are no recent phenomenon. The ancient Etruscans liked a good bullfight and had a god with a aormi@icloud.com Torrevieja Outlook
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bull head and phenomenal strength. La lidia, as the art of bullfighting is also known, really took off in an organised fashion in Spain in the mid – 18th century. In the 1830s, Pedro Romero, the greatest torero (bullfighter) of the time, was at the age of 77 appointed director of Escuela de Tauromaquia de Sevilla, the country’s first bullfighter’s college. It was around this time too that breeders succeeded in creating the first reliable breeds of ‘toro bravo’ (fighting bull). There is a first class museum in Murcia city where visitors can obtain a greater understanding of this sport-cum-art. It is not simply a ghoulish alternative to the slaughterhouse, but the pitting of a man’s skills against a powerful beast. And don’t forget that sometimes the bull gores and kills an opponent. Aficionados say the bull is better off dying at the hands of a matador (killer) than in the matadero (slaughterhouse man). No doubt, the fight is bloody and cruel. To witness it is not necessarily to understand it, but might give an insight into some of the thought and tradition behind it. Many Spaniards loathe the bullfight, but there is no doubting its overall popularity. On the surface one has the impression that a bullfight is a cruel brutal business. It would be impossible, though many have tried, to express the innermost feelings aormi@icloud.com
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that such a spectacle can arouse by the courage and dignity, the skill and dexterity displayed by all in the ring, including the bull. Bullfighting is not a sport that should be judged vicariously, or condemned on general principles. It is an experience that has to be tried and shared if one has to understand the mind of the Spaniard, his outlook on life, his attitude towards death. It is an attitude that can be seen in many of the fiestas of Spain.
Some terms: alaguacils - mounted officials bandillero - the one who prances close to the bull and sticks the small spikes into him becerradas - playful encoutners betweenamateurs and young bulls charlotada - a burlesque bullfight with dwarf toereros and miniature bulls corrido de toros - bullfight cuadrilla - the team of bullfighters espada - the sword, usually denoting the main torero who will thrust the sword into the bull. estocade a volopiÊ - killing a stationary bull estocade a recibir - killing a bull b receiving it upon thr sword in its last charge. faena - the act of the matador espada as he leads the bull through a sereis of passes using his cape. matador - Bullfighters monos - these distract the bull by waving their capes. muleta - the scarlet cloth on a rod used in the final kill novillada - contest with young bulls novillero - apprentice bullfighter paso doble - a type of band music used at the entrance of the bullfighters plaza de toros - bullring (often used for concerts and other events) picadores - the mounted fighters on horseback who use lances toril - the bulls’ enclosure torrero verdeuguillo - dagger into the spinal column of the neck to despatch a dying bull
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San Juan in Torrevieja
The first known hoguera in Torrevieja was that of 1912 when neighbours got together to burn old furniture. It became a recognised event in 1942 after the Civil War. The fiesta of San Juan has become an important one in the festival calendar of Torrevieja where usually there were four hogueras set up in the streets in different districts. Each hoguera had its corresponding Hogueras Queen and her court as well as a full programme of entertainment at the barracas set up.
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NÂş 064 June 2019 The firemen go round the hoguera as it is set alight around midnight to keep the flames under control and, as part of the general fun, turn the hosepipes on
the crowds. In passing a big thanks must go to the firemen and security forces not only at the hogueras, but who faithfully attend all the fiestas throughout the year. In addition the town’s cleaning department whose staff warrant a special commendation for swiftly and efficiently cleaning up after all the fiestas, whether it be the horse deposits of Semana Santa, or the romero branches of Corpus Christi or as in this case the ashes of the hogueras. There is only one hoguera set up in the streets of Torrevieja in the Calvario area the residents there organise not only the hoguera, but festivities around it. For the week preceding the 24th the adjacent street(s) will be blocked off to traffic and tables and bars will be set-up. Each night there will be live music, food and drink for those who want to take part in the nightly festivities. Every hoguera has a note sarcastic ally describing the ninot. The recent revival of San Juan festivities in Torrevieja has been thanks to the people of the Calvario district, who started it and has continued to organise and support the others in the town. However, it now requires to be enlarged as a tourist attraction and to include more districts of the town. This entails obtaining support rom the town hall with a grant ass well as donations from local businesses.
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Fireworks in the Postiguet From the 25th to the 29th of June, the fireworks competition is held every night next to the Playa del Postiguet.
On June 23 there is a colorful folkloric parade of bands, floats and dancers from all over the world. The international folkloric parade is one of the most anticipated events and with the largest influx of public bonfires. Representatives of many countries parade wearing their traditional costumes and dancing traditional dances. Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, Russia ... all of them, until they reach almost a hundred participants come wearing their best clothes to offer spectacle and joy. Along the route there are more than 10,000 chairs arranged to enjoy the show in comfort. These are the main official events during the holidays: The official program of events of the Bonfires of San Juan 2019 will begin on June 1 at 9:00 pm with the official proclamation from the balcony of the City Hall. Weeks before, at the beginning of May, the gala election of the Bellea del Foc adult and child will take place.
This year 2019 three mascletรกs of exhibition will be shot (2,8 and 9 of June) and a total of 10 in the official contest (from the 15 to the 24 of June). On June 24 will be a holiday throughout the Valencian Community and 25 will also be in the city of Alicante. In the absence of officially confirmed dates and times, these are the events scheduled for the festivities of Bonfires 2019: End of May Inauguration of the Ninot Exhibition in the Exhibition Hall of the Fish Market.
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SATURDAY 1 JUNE 20:30 - Tribute to the Foguerers and Barraquers who died in the Plaza de España in front of the Monumento al Foguerer. 9:00 pm - Parade of the Pregón. Route: Street of San Vicente, Rambla de Méndez Núñez, Rafael Altamira and Town Hall Square. Then, official proclamation of the Bonfires of Alicante from the balcony of the City Hall and official start to the festivities of the city.
SUNDAY, JUNE 2 14:00 - I Exhibition mascletá in Luceros 20:00 - Andrés Llorens Band Festival SATURDAY JUNE 8 14:00 - II Mascletá of exhibition in Luceros 20:00 - Parade of Ninot. The commissions of the Fogueres participate disguised with allegorical motives to the theme of their bonfire. Route: Alfonsor the Wise, Rambla de Méndez Núñez, Rafael Altamira and Plaza del Ayuntamiento. SUNDAY, 9 JUNE 14:00 - III Mascletá exhibition in Luceros. FRIDAY, JUNE 14 23:45 - Arribada del foc El Corte Inglés. Show of light, sound and pyrotechnics in front of the facade of El Corte Inglés on Churruca street. aormi@icloud.com
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Torrevieja Outlook SATURDAY, JUNE 15 14:00 - 1st Mascletás Luceros.
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in
7:00 pm - Entrance of Bands and Parade of Commissions. Route: Luceros Square, Alfonso X El Sabio, Rambla de Méndez Núñez, Altamira Street and Plaza del Ayuntamiento. SUNDAY, JUNE 16 14:00 - 2nd Contest of Mascletás in Luceros. MONDAY, JUNE 17 14:00 - 3rd Mascletás Contest in Luceros. TUESDAY, JUNE 18 14:00 - 4th Mascletás Contest in Luceros. WEDNESDAY JUNE 19 14:00 - 5th Mascletás Contest in Luceros. THURSDAY, JUNE 20 14:00 - 6th Mascletás Contest in Luceros. 00:00 - Plantá de Hogueras y Barracas. At midnight, dinner to regain strength with bacores and 'coca amb tonyina'. FRIDAY, JUNE 21ST 08:00 - Wake up in all the fogueriles districts. 09:00 - Visit of the jury to all the bonfires. · Homage to Gabriel Miró in the Plaza Gabriel Miró. · Tribute to José Maria Py in Calle José María Py. aormi@icloud.com
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14:00 - 7th Mascletás Contest in Luceros. · Reading of Awards to the Fogueres in each category and official visit to the winning bonfire. 7:00 pm - I Flower Offering Session. Route: Plaza de los Luceros, Alfonso El Sabio, Rambla de Méndez Núñez, Calle San José and Plaza de Abad Penalva. Procathedral of San Nicolás. 22:00 - Verbenas in Racós and Barracas. SATURDAY, JUNE 22 08:00 - Wake up in all the fogueriles districts. · Prize delivery parade. Route: Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Rafael Altamira and Rambla de Méndez Núñez to Portal de Elche. 14:00 - 8th Mascletás Contest in Luceros. 7:00 pm - II Flower Offering Session. Route: Plaza de los Luceros, Alfonso El Sabio, Rambla de Méndez Núñez, Calle San José and Plaza de Abad Penalva. Procathedral of San Nicolás. 22:00 - Verbenas in Racós and Barracas. SUNDAY, JUNE 23 08:00 - Wake up in all the fogueriles districts. · Parade of 'Nanos i Gegants' from the Plaza del Ayuntamiento to Plaza de los Luceros. 14:00 - 9th Mascletás Contest in Luceros. 9:00 pm - International folkloric parade. Route: Plaza de los Luceros, Alfonso El Sabio, Rambla de Méndez Núñez, Calle Altamira and Plaza del Ayuntamiento. 22:00 - Verbenas in Racós and Barracas.
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MONDAY, JUNE 24 08:00 - Wake up in all the fogueriles districts. · Parade of 'Nanos i Gegants' from the Plaza del Ayuntamiento to Plaza de los Luceros. 14:00 - 10º Contest of Mascletás in Luceros. · Misa de San Juan in the concathedral of San Nicolás de Bari. 00:00 - Shot of the monumental palm tree from the summit of Mount Benacantil and Cremá de la Foguera official in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. Next cremà of the rest of fogueres in each one of the districts of the city. FROM TUESDAY 25 TO SATURDAY JUNE 30 00:00 - International Fireworks Competition at Playa del Cocó
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Alicante fiestas throughout the year If you want it - we got it: this could be the catch phrase of Alicante. As befits a large city Alicante has fiestas throughout the year,sometimes national ones, sometimes very localised celebrations in different ‘barrios’ or districts. Most famous are the hogueras of Saint John the Baptist. The religious Santa Faz processions, just after Easter, attracts thousands of devotees. 5th January: On this day the Three Kings arrive bearing gifts for all good children; one year they arrived by helicopter with a bright star of Bethlehem attached underneath to show the way. They then procede to lead a large cavalcade through the streets. 17th January: The blessing of animals in the bullring is held in honor of San Anton with a special street market opened in the district of San Anton selling local products. February: The annual carnival lights up the aormi@icloud.com Torrevieja Outlook
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world, before the Lenten period starts, and once again some of the main streets are jammed with gaudily dressed people intent on enjoying themselves. This normally takes place on the Saturday (before Ash Wednesday) known as the ‘sábado ramblero’ with street entertainment, bands and orchestras and colourful fancy dress. On the Piñata Sunday, the mandatory closing ceremony involves the ‘burial of the sardine’ representing the abstinence of the Lenten period. Fun for everyone at these moveable fiestas whose dates depend on those of Easter. Holy Week (Semana Santa) processions take place nightly combining religion, tradition and art in an awesome atmosphere with brightly clad hooded figures walking alongside huge floats carrying masterful images of events of Christ’s last hours. An emotional week with the sadness of the Descent from the Cross, and the joyful encounter of the Resurrected Jesus with his mother, Mary, pointing-up the principal Christian beliefs. Thirteen of the images by sculptor Antonio Castillo Lastrucci have recently been restored. Two Thursdays after Easter Sunday another magnificent event takes place - the Romería de la Santa Faz when thousands of people assemble to walk to the Monastery of the Holy Face of Jesus (Santa Faz). This fervent procession is based on a tradition dating back to 1489 when the ‘miracle of the tear’ happened. This is aormi@icloud.com
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a five kilometre route in which nearly quarter of a million people participate carrying their pilgrim’s stick with herbs attached. If you are driving through Alicante on this day expect delays. Moors and Christians: Because of its founding history Alicante has a strong relationship with the Moors and as such there are five Moors and Christian fiestas held in different districts on various occasions. So we will list them all here in the one place: Some of them meet up later on the 6th December when the city’s patron saint’s feast day is held - San Nicolas of Bari. 16 - 19 March - Villafranqueza. June - San Blas district. July - Rebolledo area. 12 - 16 August parades in Altozano. August in B. José Antonio area. From the 1st - 3rd May: the Cruces de Mayo festival is held in the district of that name which clings to the side of the hill surmounted by Santa Barbara Castle. The small narrow, hilly, streets are filled with flowers and colour as neighbours compete for the best dressed cross, with a great deal of song and dancing. June 24th: Midsummer’s Eve is Alicante’s bonfire night: Alicante is rightly famous for its hogueras (made of papier-mache and wood). A new museum of hogueras is in calle Rambla. In addition there is an International Folklore Parade on 23rd June with prizes awarded and each day the Bigheads (cabezudos) and Giants (gigantes) entertain the children, accompanied by tambourines and pipes. An emotive scene is the Floral Offering held during these days with a patterned tapestry of brightly coloured flowers laid.
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A medieval market is held in the plaza de la Santisima Faz at the end of June with the sale of crafts, music and spectacles in the true spirit of the Middle Ages. July/August: Throughout the summer there are innumerable concerts held in the annual International Festivals of Music, Theatre and Dance. These concerts feature some of the best known national and international performers in various fields of the arts. Details of this entertainment is announced nearer the dates.
5th August:- Celebrations in honour of Alicante’s principal patroness - Nuestra Señora del Remedio with the highlight being a procession carrying the virgin’s image and a floral dedication. The first two weeks of September amateur theatre is to the fore with a new sense of innovation and creativity during the Alicante a Escena. This is followed by a further two weeks of the Festival Internacional de Música Contemporánea with concerts and musical spectaculors taking place at different venues throughout the city. In the middle two weeks of September vanguard theatre with seminars, drama workshops etc. takes place during the Muestra de Teatro Español de Autores Contemporáneos. 6 - 8th September: the fiestas of Raval Roig are traditional street festivals held in the fishermen’s district, the Raval Roig, located at the foot of the Benecantil Mount overlooking the sea. The Virgen of Perpetual Socorro is the patroness and the decorated streets are host to a varied programme of activities including music, dance and popular games (such as shinning up a aormi@icloud.com
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pole), rowing events and the traditional procession when the image is carried by sailors. 6th December - San Nicolás de Bari is the co-patron saint of Alicante with various events including groups of the various Moors and Chrisitans parading. In recent years immigrants from Eastern European countries have taken part dressed in their own national costumes.
Throughout the first ten days of December the Festival Internacional de Titeres takes place with groups from all over Europe and America participating.
Moors & Christians in June The festivity of the Moors and Christians is a prime example of people´s longing to incarnate protagonists from the past. Most are based on the blueprint offered by Alcoy´s fiestas in April. The battle or storming of the castle is adapted to local history, the intervention of the patron saint of the town, the Moors entry (Entramoro) and The Relations (Las Relaciones) tells of the conversion of the
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Moors after the theft and recovery of a sacred image. Most of them have their origins in the 17th century although some may be earlier. 1571 is a date quoted as the year in which street processions commemorated the victory of the battle of Lepanto and «the Squadron of Utiel» enlivened the feasts by simulating a combat between Turks and Christians. Each year towns holding these fiestas try to make them ever better and improvements are continuously made, sometimes groups borrowed from other towns. Several years ago Requena recovered «The Relations» which used to be held in the small hamlet of San Antonio, and is now played out on a stage in the town´s Teatro Principal with music and choreography bringing the story to life: this is held later in the year on St. Nicholas´ Day. Other Moors & Christians parades are celebrated in Elda (4th - 8th), Alicante’s San Blas district (8th - 12th); Teulada (12th-14th); Pego (29th-30th); Agost (24th-25th); Catral (24th-25th). Always check local tourist offices for up-to-date information. Guardamar Fishermen
Another popular celebration is at the end of the month on 29th June with SS Peter & Paul. Rojales has Moors & Christian parades among other events as Saint Peter is their patron saint. There is the usual storming of the castle and the old Bridge is full of crowds, gun smoke and marching bands.
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Fishermen of Guardamar de Segura have a maritime procession on 29th June in honour of their patron San Pedro who was himself a fisherman. This is probably the only town in Spain which holds this type of fiesta on a day different from the 16th July, the Virgen del Carmen feast date.
The isle of Tabarca also celebrate SS Peter and Paul as the only church is dedicated to these two martyrs. The only way to reach these festivities is by the ferries from Alicante Santa Pola or Torrevieja.
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Corpus Christi
The largest Corpus Christi statue is in Sao Paulo in Brazil when over five million people participate in an exuberant procession. But no need to go so far as it is a very common feast day in Spain, although mostly of a religious content with processions of children in their First Holy Communion dresses and sailors outfits. Corpus Christi is a feast celebrated in nearly every town in Spain with a procession. This usually includes white robed children, who have recently made their First Holy Communion, scattering flowers and herbs in front of the Holy Eucharist carried by the local priest. However in Valencia it is a totally different event of medieval plays and dances depicting the continuous struggle between Good and Evil, Heaven and Hell.
Corpus Christi in Valencia This is a very old devotion. The nun Juliana of Liège used to have a strange vision every time she began to pray, which had been happening since her youth, in which a full moon appeared with its centre darkened by a shadow. Finally it was Jesus Christ himself who told her of the significance of the vision which had aormi@icloud.com
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become an obsession for Juliana: the bright circle signified all liturgical celebrations and these were only darkened by the absence of a feast day dedicated to the exaltation of the actual presence of Christ in the eucharist, which at that time was questioned by several sectors of the Church. Official recognition of the feast day was given in 1246 in a synod called by Roberto de Torote, bishop of Liège. Urbano IV (who had been Archdeacon of Liège cathedral) issued a Papal Bull in 1263 in which he decreed that the date of the feast of Corpus Christi would be the Thursday following the eighth day of Whitsuntide. Finally, in 1317, John XXII ordered that the Body of Christ should be part of a solemn, public procession and from this time on, the feast of Corpus Christi became more and more widespread and popular. Normally it is held on the nearest Sunday to the actual Thursday feastday. The feast day arrived in Spain sometime during the 14th century, but it is difficult to establish the order of events with regard to this, although it would seem that Girona and Barcelona were the first readily to accept it, followed by Valencia, Lleida, Seville and Toledo. In the processions, the main feature is the Host, and this takes precedence over everything else, being housed in magnificent masterpieces of silver-work.
Valencia’s Processions
The processions which take place in Valencia are inevitably colourful, lively and baroque, dating from 1413 at least. Relevant to this feast day, mystery plays began aormi@icloud.com Torrevieja Outlook
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to be performed and although they have not been handed down in their entirety, several important subjects have been added to the many representations. The struggle between Good and Evil, and between Heaven and Hell are performed in the dances. A group of dancers perform in each of these processions and have recuperated many of these old dances.
Roques The museum dedicated to Roques is ROCAS, 3 4 6 0 0 3 VALÈNCIA ▪ Teléfono: 96.315.31.56 email: museucorpus@valencia.es
All types of characters take part in the celebrations --members of guilds and brotherhoods (the feast of Corpus Christi has aormi@icloud.com
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always been closely linked to the guilds), all the parishes, dance groups, devils, the virtuous, dwarfs, giants and eagles. In Valencia, mystery plays are performed on wooden floats called roques dating from 1413. In 1435 the Casa de les Roques started to be built as the chapel of the Roques; this was completely renovated in 2004. This is a medieval type fiesta with wonderful gaily coloured costumes of that epoch and an emphasis on religious teachings...with fun. The present purpose built museum houses large floats known as Rocas, with a principal figure and other related characters, many dating back to Just before the actual feast date (which is a moveable one dependent on Easter and this year falls on 20th June but more likely to be held the following weekend) there are five small processions from the Casa de les Roques to the Plaza de los Fueros, next to the Torres de Serranos. The principal one is carried by a group of aficionados accompanied by a medieval musical group. The others are drawn by horses. The aormi@icloud.com
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first figure represents the Devil (Roca “La Diablera” - 1512) who is accompanied by a cartful of lesser evil devils. “Roca San Miguel” (1542) represents the Final Judgement, while “La Fe” (1542) is symbolic of the Catholic Church in Valencia. San Vicente Ferrer is possibly the best known Saint of Valencian origins and a Roca is dedicated to him originally in 1512 with Samson and the Lion on board, but the present figure was constructed in 1817. In 1855 Vicente Ferrer was canonised and to mark the event the “Valencia” Roca was built. The Virgen Mary has two Rocas dedicated to her: “la Purisima”(1665) replaced a former ‘Maria del Te Deum figure’ (1542). A baroque style figure is that of the Roca “Mare de Deu dels Desamparats” built in 1995 for the Vth commemoration of the initiation of this devotion by King Fernando the Catholic.
“La Santísima Trinidad” (1674) has recently been restored and shows Adam and Eve up front and an Angel with drawn sword guarding the Garden of Eden. At the back of the float God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit are sadly watching them. The “Santa Cruz” float was introduced in 2001 with 33 drawings on its sides of Bible personalities who are in the procession. This float also has a reproduction of the Holy Meal of Juan de Juanes and there is an exact copy of the Holy Chalice kept in the Valencia Cathedral. The Roca “La Fama” was constructed in 1899 and the following year took part with the seven existing Rocas in the Corpus Christi procession. In 1958 and 1959 the Rocas were all restored. More recently Roca “Del Patriarca” was introduced in 1961 for the canonisation of San Juan de la Ribera. Ancient procession
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On the morning of the feastday of Corpus Christi the ancient procession takes place that originated in 1516. The peal of the bells of San Miguelete tower herald the beginning of the fiesta of Corpus Christi: this is the only time that all the bells are heard at the same time. At midday the cavalcade of “Degollo” from the Plaza de Manises through the intervening streets to the Plaza de la Almoina al Palau. The mounted section of the Local Police proudly lead the parade in their ceremonial uniforms, followed by the Bigheads who dance to the rhythm of the medieval music. There are three pairs and the dance comes in two parts, the first
one rather sedate and ceremonial in style, the other part more like a fandango. In recent years old dances have been recovered and introduced. “Els Caballets” is a group of 8 children dressed as arabs with carton horses (which gives them their name). This dance goes back to 1615 and is related to the Kings who paid homage to the Baby Jesus and on this particular feast give testimony to the adoration of the Holy Sacrament. Another old dance ‘Las Polonesas’ (1846) is that of “Els Arquets” group of children with floral arcs used to good effect in this particular dance that symbolizes the happiness of ordinary workers in the festival of Corpus. “Els Pastorets” graciously dance a representation of the Misteri del Rey Herodus, like shepherds before the infamous King Herod. The “La Magrana” dancers use ribbons as they represent the Jews respecting the Eucharist. They dance around a pole, each one with a ribbon attached to the pole, and weave intricate patterns. At the top of the pole is a giant pomegranate and at a crucial part of the dance a metal aormi@icloud.com
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rod dangling from the fruit is pulled so that the pomegranate opens in sections to reveal an image of the Sacred Host of the Eucharist. Virtue and the Seven Capital Sins are represented in a dance by the group “La Moma i els Momos”. The central figure is La Moma, a man dressed as a woman vested in white, the face covered with a white kerchief. This dance represents the continuous battle of virtue and the final victory over sin. The Momos wear yellow and black with a picturesque hat, representing a dragon, and these characters dance around the Moma. These are only some of the dances recuperated in recent years with songs in Valenciano. Another figure is the Roca “San Miguel” representing the Final Judgement and also the expulsion of the Arabs from the peninsular. The Roca “La Fe” was originally known as “Pariaso Terrenal” (Earthly Paradies) constructed in 1542 and renovated in 1702. The present figure goes back to 1815 and represents the Catholic Faith in Valencia. In 1512 the Roca “San Vicente Ferrer” was introduced, but was replaced by a new figure in 1852: he is one of the best known Valencian saints and has a special holyday after Easter week.
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Biblical Characters In the processions groups of figures representing Biblical characters appear; people from the Old Testamanet, the four Gospels and Saint John the Evangelist’s Apocalypse books.
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A popular group is that of the long bearded Noahs wearing white robes, carrying a symbolic dove of peace in one hand and an olive branch in the other. This represents God’s love of mankind, His mercy and man’s need to strive for peace. St. Michael the Archangel appears with a flaming sword and a large shield: he marches along with a dark clad figure on one side, representing a soul in pain; on the other side a similar figure in a white tunic is a soul in Grace. Corpus Christi means ‘The Body of Christ’ and this festival celebrates the Last Supper of Jesus and his apostles when he commanded them to follow his example and instituted the sacramanet of the Holy Eucharist. In effect through transubstation Catholics believe that Jesus offers a continual communion with him through the consecrated bread and wine at every Mass and in reality they are eating his flesh and drinking his blood. It is a difficult concept to understand and requires a great deal of faith and, in fact, in the New Testament it is remarked that many found this to be a hard saying and left his company. As such bread and wine are important elements in this particular festival. Several of the characters in the procession carry bread and wine. Melchisedech, the great priest of the Old Testament, carries bread and wine as a symbol of the eucharistic sacrifice. Moses and Aaron carry the tablets of the Ten Commandments, important figures as they were witnesses of the manna or bread in the desert miraculously sent down from heaven: another reference to the Eucharist. In fact all the Old Testamanet figures bear some relationship with the promise of the fulfillment of the Jewish Law by Jesus. Two figures carry the ladder of Jacob signifying the aormi@icloud.com
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patriarchs ascending to heaven. Eight Jewish priests carry the Arc of the Alliance, a golden chest surmounted by two cherubs which hold the Tables of the Law. Seven angels are the figures of the the Apocalypse of Saint John and in the 18th century they performed a dance in front of the Altar of Sacrifice (which also appears in the procession). In fact there are too many figures in this procession to write down here as it would require a book on its own for Valencia’s Corpus Christi celebrations. It is full of allegories such as Santa Margalida with a parade of the ‘Cuca Fera’, a giant turtle that represents, according to the story, the devil dominated by the Saint herself. This is a great tradition in the Mediterranean countries. In fact you will discover many saints and legends that Anglo-Saxons have never heard of. Route The procession keeps more or less to the original route of 1355: Puerta de los Apóstoles de la Catedral, Plaza de la Virgen, Cabaleros, Tros Alt, Bolsería, Mercado, maria Cristina, San Vicente, Plaza de la reina, Mar, Avellanas, Plaza de la Almoina and back to the cathedral.
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Baking for the Pueblo Probably many of you have passed this little shop opposite the la Plasa indoor market, maybe you have bought some of the lovely cakes. One of the most common and famous names in Torrevieja is Torregrosa as the original ones feature in early Torrevieja records. Last March, the Councilor for Commerce, Manuela Osuna, announced the Commerce Award of the Year 2019, which went to the Confitería Torregrosa. It highlights a family business with a tradition of more than 60 years and still using 100-year old traditional recipes . It is located in the centre of Torrevieja, the Confectionery and vIn the section of 'Commercial Renewal', the first prize has been awarded to the "Floristería Liliana", returning to be vacant the second place. Finally, in the "Urban Commerce" category, the first prize went to "Óptica Mar", while the second prize was awarded to "Marhesol Hogar". The first prize of each of these categories is endowed with 800 euros and with 275 the second. Visited daily by hundreds of customers who seek meringues or the empanadas, a meat pie. The popular and beloved confectionery "del Camarroja” as it is commonly known as, is already in its third generation. Since January 2, 2017, Pepe and Elena's son, José Vicente Torregrosa Ballester, have been at the front of the workshop, a young man who has been raised in the establishment and who has always helped. 62 years old they contemplate this small confectionery that keeps a long history, genuine, sweet and salty, and above all handmade, something that remains its main personality. Other businesses singled out were the flower shop Floristeria Liliana winning the Renovacion Commercial award and first prize to the Herbariam shop with the Nuevo Commercial award. Optic Mar and Mhersol Hogar also won distinctions and the prizes were awarded at the Gala on 3rd May. aormi@icloud.com
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LA UNIÓN MUSICAL TORREVEJENSE by Francisco Rebollo
One of the oldest and dearest institutions of Torrevieja is the music band Unión Municipal Torrevenjese, that is a continuation of the first music band of Torrevieja, whose known reference dates back to 1842, when a small group musical of friends who shared a fondness for music got together.
Some of the names connected with the UMT are quite famous, such as those of Manuel Amillano, director of the band from 1863 to 1869. Joaquín Cassamitjana, director from 1869 to 1875. Federico Rogel, director from 1875 to 1876. Antonio Gil Lucco, director from 1876 to 1912 appear as the first promoters of the local music band, which, moreover, from the first years has always been present in all the events and civil and religious holidays celebrated in the town and at the same time united and supported traditionally by the Town Hall. In the year 1873, in the time of director D. Joaquín Casamitjana, the band of music was going through a moment of economic hardship, when not being able to face the payment of some musical instruments that he had bought from a house in Valencia, he resorted to the Town Hall to request which was the beginning of an annual subsidy from the town hall to the band in return for playing at public events. Precisely in that year the band was present at the reception of Antonete Gálvez Arce on his first disembarkation in the town that took place on July 22 in the morning, when the cantonal leader arrived from Alicante on board the armed steam " Vigilante "and escorted by the armored frigate" Victoria “. This was a very famous event, quite farcical in retrospect, which you can read more about in Andy Ormiston’s book “Cameos of Torrevieja”.
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Until the constitution of the Musical Union Torrevejense in 1927, and throughout its history, the band of Torrevieja, according to the period, has passed through bright and sometimes unstable moments. Among the first, it should be noted that in the year 1888, in the band contest held in Alicante, the Torrevieja band won third prize. After the death of the maestro D. Antonio Gil Lucco, and until its constitution in 1927 as the Musical Union Torrevejense, the band went through a stage of instability in which the following directors succeeded each other: Antonio Gil Vallejos from 1912 to 1914; José Viudes Sevilla from 1914 to 1923, a person who incidentally had a judicial confrontation with the City Council and in whose lawsuit he was the winner; D. Idelfonso Torregrosa from 1923 to 1926; Mr. José Antonio Galiana Barceló, popularly known as the maestro "Melandro" from 1926 to 1927. Once formed as a musical society, at the end of 1927, the band went from being a small group with few resources to become a society with their own economic means; partners and first board of directors chaired by its first president Mr. José Aguirre Calero who held the position from 1927 to 1954, being director D. Jesús Vergel Leal who in 1948 replaced him in the direction of the band D. Pedro Benegas Ayala which remained until 1951.
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The band was dissolved between 1946 and 1948, then taken on by President D. José Aguirre Calero until 1954 who was relieved in the presidency by Mr. Manuel Bonafox Amezúa, a person who did a great job in reorganizing the band by equipping it with new instruments and establishing some incentives for the musicians plus a new headquarters located in the old García Morato street, later named the Unión Musical street in its first section that connects in the second section with Antonio Machado street where today sits the Palacio de la Musica, old headquarters that we remember with a rehearsal room and a house. This is now due to have some refurbishment.
It was a time of splendor of the Musical Union under the direction of the director Alberto Ezcámez López, who in 1954 was replaced by Mr. Pedro Benegas Ayala. Those were the times when the fisherman Manuel Galiana "Manolin", accompanied the band in all the parades he performed in the city.
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The band prospered under the direction of various well known people. Manuel Bonazos, was eight years in the presidency of the society; in 1962 he was replaced by Mr. José Albéntola Gil, in the time of Mayor Juan Mateo García, a moment and circumstances of this relay that D. Juan Mateo recounts in his book “Memorias de un corregidor", who in those days inspired some members of the musical society to advise him of how to give a new impetus to the band, and indeed it was with the new president's entrance and thanks to his personal management that he brought to Torrevieja the prestigious director Francisco Casanovas Gallarda, under whose direction from 1970 to 1981, the band reached its maximum degree of splendor since the founding of the entity in 1927.
According to my father, Francisco Rebollo Griñant, explained in his family memoirs that he wrote at the end of his life in Gijón, recalling those years when he was an official of the City Council in municipal taxes, when the band formed to start the parades. Manolín, always with his whistle in his right hand and "mayor" rod in his left hand. Manolin, in his imagination, like a colonel of a regiment before a
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formation of soldiers, reviewed the band to check that everything was in order. Once started the parade of the band, the good man, always very serious, was placed in the head of the band a few meters from the director, to parade with them during the tour, in those years that the band used to play in all the parades a march of a very catchy tune, which children knew as "do not clarify" and sang repetitively... This endearing character, at present has a street in the city with ihis name that runs Esté-West past the barracks of the Guardia Civil above La Paz street.
Following the history of the musical band Unión Musical Torrevejense, in 1979, José Lorenzo Aniorte replaced José Albentosa Gil in the presidency of the Society, who remained in office until 1992.
In 1981, Salvador Martínez Navalón replaced Francisco Casanova Tallardá in the direction of the band, who months later, in the same year, was replaced by Francisco Cachano Moltó, who remained in the direction of the band until 1989. In 1986, he became president of the Ramón Ortega Chazarra Society. In these years the band went through a time of lack of motivation and certain discontent that produced a group of dissatisfied musicians who left the band, being mostly the basis of the founding of the new band "Los Salerosos" that after a while it took the new name of "Ciudad de Torrevieja" Los Salerosos ". aormi@icloud.com
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Starting in 1989, the direction of the band was under Matías Trinidad Ramón who took over until 1992. The Unión Musical To r r e v e j e n s e began to recover in several aspects, including the restructuring of the music school. Matías Trinidad Ramón, in 1992, replaced him as the director of the band until Bernado Pérez Pellicer, who remained until 1998, and to this the director Jaime Belda Cantabella until his retirement in November 2017. Carlos Ramón Pérez is currently in this position. The Band has grown tremendously over there last years with a strong contingentt of younger musicians in training.
Top picture Ciudad de Torrevieja" Los Salerosos ". Bottom Photo Retirement concert of musical director JAIME BELDA CANTAVELLA
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In this new stage, the Unión Musical Torrevejense has performed numerous performances in different Spanish cities, highlighting among others the concerts in the Palau de la Música in Valencia, Barcelona Auditorium, Albacete Municipal Auditorium and Murcia Auditorium, Salamanca, Asturias and others to what there are that numerous concerts in Torrevieja and performances in processions, organizing festivals etc.
JAIME BELDA CANTAVELLA (1998-2017) Jaime Belda Cantavella, was born in Fuente de la Higuera (Valencia) on November 2, November 1942. He began his musical studies at the Musical Society "La Lira Fontiguerense". At the Conservatory of Music Madrid he studied saxophone, piano counterpoint, orchestra composition that ended with the highest grades, studies he perfected in Nice and Paris (France) and in Wuirkershein (Germany). Later he studied violin at the Conservatory of Music. He has been a professor at the Superior Conservatory of Music "Oscar Espla" of Alicante. He has attended different musical courses and has collaborated with orchestras from Spain and Czechoslovakia. As director of music bands he has obtained different prizes, among which are the highest award with "La Lira Fontigurense" in the International Contest of Music Bands of Valencia of the years 1986 and 1988 From 1983 to 1997 he was the principal conductor of the "Youth Orchestra" of the Region of Murcia. Among others he has directed the Orchestra of the Region of Murcia and the "Junger Wirble Orchestra" of Muñiz. During his musical career he has received different prizes, among them, prize and first class diploma of the Royal Conservatory of Music of Madrid; Army Musical Composition Prize In 1998 he took over the direction of the "Unión Musical Torrevejense", combining the direction of this band with the "Agrupación Sauces" of Cartagena. In April 2001, he was invited by the "State Symphony Orchestra" of the Belarusian Broadcasting Company, to conduct concerts at the European Meetings at the X Minsk Spring Festival. His musical work is included in the book The great conductors of Hans-Klaus Jungheinrich. (Editorial Alliance 1991) He wrote a march for the International cofradia of Jesus in the Gaden f Olives which is played as they march on Semana Santa processions.
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Black is Black by Pat Hynd
“You wouldn’t be allowed to do that in England.” “ Do what?” “ Blacken your face for a parade.” In Spain many fiestas require black-faced characters and Torrevieja’s Three Kings Cavalcade was no exception as group after group featured peasants, soldiers, dancing girls and Balthazar, the one King with a black face, although his was not makeup. This type of event shows how stupid are some of those modern politically correct stances taken by so many people. Alongside me in the crowd was a family of Chinese, mother and father and three children, who were awed by the extravagant spectacle as a miniature
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Bethlehem town of traders, shepherds, artisans, goats and donkey herders, with a gaggle of geese marching along in front of the bands and soldiers. I could not help think that if that family were still in China there would only have been one child. Also watching were a couple of tall Senegalese men enjoying the excitement as the children scooped up handfuls of boiled sweets thrown by some of the 500 people taking part in the parade. Opposite on the other side of the street were Algerian or Moroccan women with children who were just as excited at the spectacle and free sweeties. I wonder what they thought of the groups of people in the parade dressed in similar clothes as they were accustomed to wearing daily. The Three Kings had already visited the children in hospital; the pensioners in the public residence and those others cared for by the Carmelite nuns who celebrate a special 150 anniversary this year of their foundation. This was a splendid and extravagant parade complete with livestock including donkeys carrying parcels of goodies in parcels bearing the names of children. There were Roman soldiers, dancing virgins from Egypt, a troop of ferocious looking cavalry in armour crowned with a glorious feathered helmet and even floats with Asterix and Disney’s Pinocchio and Giuseppe. Each king had his own dromedarydrawn throne preceded by a band (one included a Galician piper) and glorious dancing girls. It was a parade that many nationalities could relate to without taking offence. The protagonists may have been the kings, but for many parents the stars were their own children whose dreams were lived out in front of their eyes, realising that the kings were there in front of them, but because they were magical Magi could also be in front of children in Madrid, aormi@icloud.com
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Barcelona or other places in the world. Fiestas are fun and this one was no exception and as another kid I thoroughly enjoyed it, and neither the colour of my face, nor my nationality, meant a thing. As the cavalcade passed the Sacred Heart church where the vigil Epiphany Mass was being celebrated, I thought of the French-Canadian beggar who had died at the church doors on the Day of the Innocents – yet another victim of our modern society of throwaways, whether it is fiesta sweets, toys, gadgets or people unable for various reasons to cope with the demands of modern living. The parade eventually terminated at the main Torrevieja church where pillars acted as a backdrop to a living Nativity scene of Mary, Joseph and baby being adored by the Kings as King Melchor gave a speech about the meaning of the Christmas message of hope, peace and love for our fellow men: another fiesta with many messages for reflection. In America color is a big issue as white supremacists seem to be becoming more prominent. This is nothing new as it has been going on for a couple of hundred years in USA. In the early 1960’s I attended a conference in California that was interrupted constantly by black participants who wanted us to talk about their problems, which led to a day being set aside to discuss their issues, including a black preacher talking to us. I asked a Canadian lawyer (whom I had met in London) what was their problem and he said that in Chicago, where he was based, there were black Saturday morning schools where they are taught that they were robbed by white men, including inventing the television.
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On another occasion in Virginia I played a prank on a white friend, a notary, who came from hill billy country in North Carolina; and told him it looked as though the house next to him had been sold to a black family‌and he went bananas. I think these, to a certain extent, demonstrate the huge division between the AfroAmerican community and the white community marked by the supremacy movement. In this edition we have a couple of articles based on this issue. There are different nationalities in every country and in Torrevieja we have around 120 different nationalities that add color and character to the town, especially when they’re able to integrate into the local cultural programme. We should aim to build up on these different cultural differences with more integration in the cultural programme.
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Bookshelf by Pat Hynd Kneeling for the Flag
American schoolchildren gather together each morning to salute the America star and stripes flag. It has become cornerstone of the patriotism that makes America great. “For African-American athletes, sports will never be just a game,” says sports writer Howard Bryant. "This is a question of black body versus black brain," he says. "In the United States, the black body has always been what's been compensated — whether you can sing, whether you can dance, whether you can ... work manually. That's what we care about. That's the currency.” Bryant, traces the legacy of black athlete activists in his new book, The Heritage: Black Athletes, a Divided America, and the Politics of Patriotism. He says there were "40 years of dormancy" when black athletes by and large didn't use their platforms to advocate for social change. Now, with NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem, athletes are once again asserting their voices. President Trump tweeted out a condemnation of football players who sit or kneel during the national anthem. Among other messages, Trump tweeted, “If NFL fans refused to go to games until players stop disrespecting our Flag & Country, you will see change take place fast. Fire or suspend!” He said in part, "Get that son of a b*tch off the field right now, he's fired. He's fired!” aormi@icloud.com
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In fact the protest is not about the flag or patriotism, it is about police brutality indiscriminately used against black suspects. I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. Kaepernick tweeted, “There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder”.
Another new book is “Things That Make White People Uncomfortable”, by Michael Bennett helped by Dave Zinn. Michael Bennett is a Super Bowl Champion, a three-time Pro Bowl defensive end, a fearless activist, a feminist, a grassroots philanthropist, an organizer, and a change maker. He's also one of the most scathingly humorous athletes on the planet, and he wants to make you uncomfortable. Bennett adds his unmistakable voice to discussions of racism and police violence, Black athletes and their relationship to powerful institutions like the NCAA and the NFL, the role of protest in history, and the responsibilities of athletes as role models to speak out against injustice. Following in the footsteps of activist-athletes from Muhammad Ali to Colin Kaepernick, Bennett demonstrates his outspoken leadership both on and off the field. Written with award-winning sportswriter and author Dave Zirin, Things that Make White People Uncomfortable is a sports book for our turbulent times, a memoir, and a manifesto as hilarious and engaging as it is illuminating. He makes the point that these big sportsmen are still slaves when they accept scholarships that lead them onto the sports pitch as they are still owned by the rich promoters and have to follow instructions.
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Biased is another new book by Doctor Jennifer Eberhart who explains how unconscious biases can be small and insignificant, but they affect every sector of society, leading to enormous disparities, from the classroom to the courtroom to the boardroom. Black people yearn tone treated and respected the same as white people. Once I was in a group of a dozen young men students including two black men from Zimbabwe. One day one of them came down to breakfast with a white cream on his face. I asked his companion what was the matter and he laughingly said, “Vicente wants to be like a white person.” Up to then none of us were aware of any difference. Nowadays young whites try to make themselves darker which is known as blackfishing. But unconscious bias is not a sin to be cured, but a universal human condition, and one that can be overcome. In Biased, pioneering social psychologist Professor Jennifer Eberhardt explains how. How we all tend to be biased. It is another step on the road to us seeing and acting as all being equal. Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt , Ph.D. is a professor of psychology at Stanford and a recipient of a 2014 MacArthur “genius” grant. She has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and was named one of Foreign Policy‘s 100 Leading Global Thinkers. She is co-founder and codirector of SPARQ (Social Psychological Answers to Real-World Questions), a Stanford Center that brings together researchers and practitioners to address significant social problems. This book is deep. Deep because Jennifer Eberhardt digs right down to the lowermost areas of mindsets, customs and attitudes. She does so logically, thoroughly, and comprehensively, in a way that I really believe has never been done before. It is very rarely that you can call something highly intellectual, deeply personal, and beautifully accessible at the same time. This book is rational, honest, depressing perhaps, but inspiring. Jennifer Eberhardt makes it clear that racism operates at all levels, and it fills me with hope to know that she is fighting it at all levels.
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Her groundbreaking research and deep insight makes it possible for individuals and communities to face our deeply-rooted human biases with greater compassion and courage. We avoid talking about race for fear it will divide us, but avoidance inevitably leads us to repeat past mistakes and create conditions in which old wounds fester rather than heal. Eberhardt gives us the opportunity to talk about race in new ways, ultimately transforming our thinking about ourselves and the world we want to create. "In the next decade there is a chance to make unprecedented progress in confronting America's history of racial inequality which has created a society where racial bias remains one of the most challenging problems our nation faces. The hope for progress is greatly increased by Jennifer Eberhardt's groundbreaking new book on implicit bias. Biased presents the science of bias with rare insight and accessibility, but it is also a work with the power and craft to make us see why overcoming racial bias is so critical. Jennifer Eberhardt is one America's preeminent social psychologists and her book will be essential reading for anyone interested in how we become a more just society." (Bryan Stevenson, author of Just Mercy).
And finally a look at a new theatrical production, film and book. Two years ago, the actor Jim Coleman had never heard of the Rev. Augustus Tolton, who is believed to be the first African-American Catholic ordained a priest. Now he portrays him in a production, “Tolton: From Slave to Priest,” which is currently touring the United States. Based on the book From Slave to Priest: The Inspirational Story of Father Augustine Tolton, by Caroline Hemesath, S.S.F., the play is an account of Father Tolton’s remarkable life. After escaping from slavery with his mother and siblings, the young Tolton was raised in Illinois in the Catholic faith. Rejected by U.S. seminaries because he was black, Father Tolton repaired to Rome, where he studied for the priesthood.
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After his ordination in 1864, “he wants to go to Africa where he wants to be a missionary, but he’s sent back to the ‘enlightened’ country of America,” said Leonardo Defilippis, the founder of Saint Luke Productions, which produced the play. Father Tolton returned to the United States, where eventually he started St. Monica Parish on Chicago’s South Side, ministering to African-American and white parishioners. A short film about Father Tolton, written and directed by the Nashville filmmaker Chris Foley, premiered this year. It follows Father Tolton’s escape from slavery with his mother, Martha, and three siblings. “As a native son of America, his story is so triumphal in the sense of what he was eventually able to do,” responding to persecution and oppression with an outpouring of love. Mr. Defilippis noted that while there is no mention of Father Tolton at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, “now people are getting to know his story, and they’re actually starting to find out he’s one of the most significant black figures in the history of the United States and one of the most significant priests.”
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Amanda Gorman is an American poet and activist from Los Angeles, California. Gorman's work focuses on issues of oppression, feminism, race, and marginalization, as well as the African diaspora. A spindly looking girl she has suffered discrimination in many ways, her physical appearance, being black and having a speech problem. She overcame these, learning to speak in public, and she studied at the prestigious Harvard University. Gorman is the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate. She published the poetry book The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough in 2015. Amanda Gorman has already been heralded as one of the next great poets in America. She was appointed to be the first-ever poet laureate of Los Angeles, touring the city and working with the mayor to inspire young people in new and creative forms of expression. She has served as a United Nations Youth Delegate and traveled all over the world to speak up for girls' education and empowerment. Her first book of poems, The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough, was published in 2015. Here is a poem that looks at Bias.
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At the Age of 18 - Ode to Girls of Color At the age of 5 I saw how we always pick the flower swelling with the most color. The color distinguishes it from the rest, and tells us: This flower should not be left behind. But this does not happen in the case of colored girls. Our color makes hands pull back, and we, left to grow alone, stretching our petals to a dry sun. At the age of 12 I blinked in the majesty of the color within myself, blinded by the knowledge that a skinny black girl, a young brown teen, has the power to light Los Angeles all night, the radiance to heal all the scars left on this city's pavement. Why had this realization taken so long, When color pulses in all that is beauty and painting and human? You see, long ago, they told me that snakes and spiders have spots and vibrant bodies if they are poisonous. In other words, being of color meant danger, warning, 'do not touch'. At the age of 18 I know my color is not warning, but a welcome. A girl of color is a lighthouse, an ultraviolet ray of power, potential, and promise My color does not mean caution, it means courage my dark does not mean danger, it means daring, my brown does not mean broken, it means bold backbone from working twice as hard to get half as far. Being a girl of color means I am key, path, and wonder all in one body. At the age of 18 I am experiencing how black and brown can glow. And glow I will, glow we will, vibrantly, colorfully; not as a warning, but as promise, that we will set the sky alight with our magic. aormi@icloud.com
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of Spanish Cooking by Pat Hynd Want a Date Mate
When I was younger and enjoyed cycling we tried to have high calorie foodstuff handy and dates were easy to carry and eat without stopping and here I am surrounded by palm trees, so many carrying dates. Almost all dates sold in Western countries are dried.You can tell whether or not dates are dried based on their appearance. A wrinkled skin indicates they are dried, whereas a smooth skin indicates freshness. Depending on the variety, fresh dates are fairly small in size and range in color from bright red to bright yellow. Medjool and Deglet Noor dates are the most commonly consumed varieties. Dates are chewy with a sweet flavor. They are also high in some important nutrients and have a variety of advantages and uses. Dates have an excellent nutrition profile. Since they’re dried, their calorie content is higher than most fresh fruit. The calorie content of dates is similar to that of other dried fruits, such as raisins and figs This was one of the trees introduced by Carthaginians then spread more widely by the Arabs. Elche has one of the biggest and oldest palm tree groves. Dates were first cultivated as far back as 4000 BC in ancient Mesopotamia. They have been a staple of the Middle East since then and were more recently introduced to other areas of the world. Today, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iran are the top producers of dates, although they are enjoyed all over the globe in baking and cooking applications. There are numerous varieties of dates, from the sweet and firm Jumbo Medjool dates to the small and caramel-like Barhi dates. Despite their slight differences in size, texture, and taste, all dates are rich in health benefits and can easily be incorporated into your diet. aormi@icloud.com
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Harvest time varies for different varieties of dates, and usually takes place over the course of a few days for any single variety. Dates grow in bunches on palm trees, and these bunches are covered with nets close to harvest in order to collect fallen fruits. Taller palm trees are more difficult to harvest because lifts must be used to reach and collect the fruit bunches from the trees. The bunches on shorter trees can be shaken into bins to remove any ripe dates. Fruits that have fallen to the ground are subject to spoilage and are not collected. The harvested dates are then transported to processing facilities where they are cooled and disinfected before packaging. Dates are also high in antioxidants, which may contribute to many of their health benefits. Dates contain several vitamins and minerals, in addition to fiber and antioxidants. However, they are high in calories since they are a dried fruit. They contain fibre that helps your digestive system. Dates are high in fiber, which may be beneficial for preventing constipation and controlling blood sugar control. Dates contain several types of antioxidants that may help prevent the development of certain chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s and diabetes. Dates may be helpful for lowering inflammation and preventing plaques from forming in the brain, which is important for preventing Alzheimer’s disease. The potential brain-boosting properties of dates have been attributed to their content of antioxidants known to reduce inflammation, including flavonoids ( Dates may promote and ease natural labor for pregnant women when consumed during the last few weeks of pregnancy. Dates have been claimed to promote bone health and aid in blood sugar control, but these effects have not been studied sufficiently. Dates are incredibly versatile and make a delicious snack. They are often paired with other foods, such as almonds, nut butter or soft cheese. There are many different ways to eat dates. They are commonly eaten plain but can also be incorporated into other popular dishes.
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Breakfast bars 250g/9oz medjool dates 2 tsp ground cinnamon 75g/2½oz goji berries 75g/2½oz pumpkin seeds 150g/5½oz brown flaxseeds 50g/1¾oz cocoa nibs 25g/1oz chia seeds 25g/1oz cornflakes (gluten-free if required) 100g/3½oz organic porridge oats (not instant), gluten-free if required) 1
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Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4, and line the bottom and sides of a 20cm/8in square tin with baking parchment. Pit the dates and tear them with your fingers into a small saucepan, add the cinnamon, cover with 325ml/11fl oz cold water, bring to the boil and let bubble for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat, and beat with a fork until you have a rough purée. Put all the remaining ingredients into a large bowl, add the date mixture and mix until everything is combined. I wear a pair of disposable vinyl gloves for this. Squeeze into your prepared tin and bake in the oven for 30 minutes, until firm and set, and golden on top and darker around the edges. Leave to cool in the tin before cutting into pieces.
If you can’t get hold of medjool dates, then use 350g/12oz pitted dried dates and up the water to 400ml/14fl oz. And they’ll take about 10, rather than 5, minutes to cook until they’re soft enough to mash to a purée.
Dates wrapped in bacon and baked have always ben a favorite snack or start. Here is a variant to try.
Bacon and Dates with Blue Cheese Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Slice dates in half, and open them up. Pinch off pieces of blue cheese, and place them into the centre of the dates. Close the halves of the dates, and wrap a half-slice of bacon around the outside. Secure each one with a toothpick. Arrange in a baking dish or on a baking sheet with sides to catch any grease. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the bacon is crisp. Turn dates over after the first 20 minutes for even cooking. aormi@icloud.com
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Chicken Breasts in an Arabic Sauce with Couscous 1 skinless, boneless chicken breast half 1/2 cup couscous 1/2 cup water 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 1 pinch salt 1 tablespoon salted butter 1/4 cup capers, drained 3 dates, pitted and chopped 1/4 cup mascarpone cheese 1/4 cup double cream salt and ground black pepper to taste (optional) 1 date, pitted and chopped 1/4 cucumber, diced 1/2 tomato, diced 1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional) Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat, and lightly oil the grate. Grill the chicken breast until the meat is no longer pink inside and shows welldefined grill marks, 5 to 8 minutes per side. Cut the chicken breast in half, and set aside. Bring the water, unsalted butter, and a pinch of salt to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Remove from the heat, and stir in the couscous. Cover and let stand for 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork. aormi@icloud.com
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Melt the salted butter in a skillet over medium heat, and gently stir in the capers and 3 dates. Stir a few times to heat the capers and dates, then stir in the mascarpone cheese and cream, stirring until the cheese and cream have melted together. Allow the mixture to simmer for about 3 minutes to reduce slightly, then season to taste with salt and pepper. Place the couscous on a serving platter, and sprinkle with a chopped date. Arrange the 2 pieces of chicken breast onto the couscous, and cover with the mascarpone sauce. Sprinkle the dish with diced cucumber and tomato, and drizzle lemon juice over the top to serve.
sticky toffee pudding 5 tbsp demerara sugar, for coating the moulds 200g/7oz pitted dates ½ tsp vanilla extract 50g/2oz butter, softened, plus extra for greasing the moulds 175g/6oz dark muscovado sugar 1½ tsp golden syrup 1½ tsp black treacle 200g/7oz self-raising flour 2 free-range eggs toffee sauce 500ml/18fl oz double cream 175g/6oz demerara sugar 175g/6oz butter 1 tbsp golden syrup 1 tbsp black treacle 1 2
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Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5. Butter eight small pudding basins (dariole moulds) and sprinkle demerara sugar inside, coating evenly. Shake any excess sugar out of the moulds, and place them on a baking tray. Place the dates with 250ml/9fl oz water into a saucepan and bring up to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir the vanilla extract into the date mixture. Blend with a stick blender until the date mixture is thick and soupy. In a large bowl, beat the butter and muscovado sugar together until smooth. Stir in the syrup and treacle, then the flour, mixing well. Break the eggs one at a time into the bowl, stirring well after each one.
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Add the bicarbonate of soda to the date mixture, then pour into the flour mixture and beat well to blend. Pour the mixture into the prepared pudding basins, filling them two-thirds full. Put the puddings into the oven immediately, and bake for 20 minutes until wellrisen and springy to the touch. For the sauce, gently heat the cream in a saucepan. Add the sugar and butter and whisk until melted. Whisk in the syrup and treacle. To serve, turn the pudding out onto a plate, spoon the sauce over the top and around, then finish with a dollop of ice cream.
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Bali Sahaja Sawah Resort Yayasan Sahaja Sawah Foundation Bernard van Elmpt is a Dutch businessman who has lived and worked in Torrevieja for several decades. During that time he has supported many local associations, helping to buy minibus for disabled, Red Cross Ambulances, Buses for supporters of local football club, Semana Santa processions and lots of other social and charitable entities. Now he is located in Bali where he has built a holiday resort. But his experiences in Bali has brought him into contact with local villagers whose poverty has touched him.
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Poor people in Bali? But isn't Bali rich with all those well off people who go there on holidays as it is an exotic destination. Not true. There are resorts built specifically to lure the holiday makers ensuring that they have a wonderful exotic vacation under blue skies and warm sun, on a golden beach with a fancy cocktail at hand. But that’s a holiday brochure vision. There are many poor people living in the villages that tourists never see.
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A look at https://www.sahajasawah.org - a the webpage for the Yayasan Sahaja Sawah Foundation of Torrevieja entrepreneur Bernard van Elmpt. His holiday resort in Bali provides work for many of the local villagers and his foundation is helping them to recover from the effects of earthquakes, a tsunami and volcanic eruption. In this way nine villages and their people can be helped. If you look at the Yayasan Sahaja Sawah webpage you will see that the aim is to ensure that the people help themselves and never be helped directly with money. Bernard has a range of projects such as the bridge that was destroyed in a tsunami and his foundation gave the building materials for the villagers to rebuild it for themselves. The same strategy was used to rebuild a six kilometer road. Recently he visited Torrevieja and gave two presentations of his vision for these poor people. One is to rebuild the school which was destroyed and he is naming it “TORREVIEJA” as he considers that education is a key the future for the youngsters. Nearby is an orphanage and after the natural disasters there are even more homeless children and the Yayasan Sahaja Sawah Foundation would like to build an extension aormi@icloud.com
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NÂş 064 June 2019 to the current h t t p s : / / sahajasawah.org/ repair-kelecungtemple/ to orphanage to provide for these unfortunate children.
Potable water is a big health problem as it comes from the already polluted river. At the moment the foundation, through donors, is buying special water filter systems that are given to each family, which still requires someone to go to the river to collect it. These only cost 30 euros and the name of the donor can be put on each filter. Another aim was an ambulance to get ill people to the hospital 45 minutes away over a bumpy road. He has managed to do that now it is needing a couple of defibrillators. In the videos a couple of young people could be seen with huge tumors on their faces and it would be great if something could be done for these people. Obviously fishing is a job that requires a boat and the aim is to buy boats to loan to families so that they can earn money and eventually pay off the loan for a boat; then that money can be reinvested for another family’s fishing boat. Protecting the environment is also another consideration of the Yayasan Sahaja Sawah Foundation and one other of the projects is turtle preservation, encouraging the children to participate. The Yayasan Sahaja Sawah Foundation employs 2 staff who clean the local beaches and villages from plastic and other recyclable material, there is already an agreement with 2 villages that they save all recyclable material and it is collected it once a month and they get paid for it, so they have initiative to keep it clean. In this way villagers are taught to recycle things. aormi@icloud.com
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The Yayasan Sahaja Sawah Foundation supplies villagers with fruit trees and other plants that they can grow in their own gardens and be a bit more self sufficient. Another aspect of this is providing, in a payback loan agreement, families with pigs and cows so they can reproduce and continue in a cycle providing them with food or years to come. The Yayasan Sahaja Sawah Foundation slogan is “Life’s greatest privilege is taking care of those around you.” That requires that you teach people to look after themselves without depending on handouts. But the Yayasan Sahaja Sawah Foundation requires a lot of support to provide the fruition of these and other projects. The foundation require your help, your donations, to assist the really poor of this earth to learn to provide for themselves.
We don’t give fish to eat, we give fishing rods and boats so they can eat many times. We don’t give meat to eat, we give live pigs and cows so they can reproduce and have food and money for many years. We give fruit trees, vegetables plants. We also give water filters so their water be drinkable.
Information Donate
https://youtu.be/rg7HMQ9Dt_s
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For four years, day and night, they dwelt in the desert until Moses came again with tablets of promises of a better and new life. And there was much rejoicing. In this case it was the town of Torrevieja and its political climate as the town suffered from stagnation, although there was salt all around. The promised day was 27th May when Torrevieja and the whole of Spain held municipal (and European) elections. Gaining an absolute majority of 14 seats, Eduardo Dolรณn will be the mayor of Torrevieja for the next four years and along with his 13 other counsellors, has produced a mandate and action plan to return growth and pride to the city of Salt. He has a very diverse team with a variety of talents and experience supporting him.
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During the election campaign he has visited a wide range of citizens exploring what is needing to be done to improve the town and move forward improving culture, sports, education, health, t r a n s p o r t , environment and everything else in making the town work and improve facilities. Almost everyone is in agreement that there has been stalemate the past four years with a mixed group of parties vying for attention and getting little done. Now Eduardo Dolón’s team of councillors made up off his campaign manager and councillor, (right) Rosario Martinez, along with head teacher Ricardo Recuero, much awarded sportswoman Diana Box. Well known volunteer of different associations Concha Sala, musician Antonio Quesada, dance teacher and previous councillor Inmaculada aormi@icloud.com
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Montesinos. Antonio Vidal of La Mata; chemist and experienced councilor Tomás Ballester (left); specialist in horticulture Carmen Gómez; university trained in Public Works Sandra Sánchez and Federico Alarcón. Accountant and tax expert Vicente Chazarra and multi linguist business woman from Denmark Gitte Lund Thomsen.
There are several parties in opposition - the PSOE, who gained one seat, led by Andrés Navarro, with Ana María Pérez Torregrosa, Andrés Antón Alarcón, Fanny Serrano Rodríguez and Rodolfo Domingo Carmona Rodríguez. The Greens/Verde/Compromiso: changed their name, lost one seat and will be in opposition to the current mayor: their team consists of outgoing Mayor José Manuel Dolón, outgoing treasurer José Hurtado and councillor Carmen Morate. Sueña Torrevieja lost one seat and is represented by Pablo Samper. New on the block is VOX party represented in Torrevieja by Carolina Vigara. A couple of other small parties didn't get enough votes to have a
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councilor appointed. โ จ aormi@icloud.com
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